Chapter Summaries

Ling Yu attended Xue Qinghe’s banquet after spending days researching Soul Tools, and Xue Qinghe questioned him about Spirit Hall and his views on the empire. Xue Qinghe revealed her true identity as Qian Renxue, who recognized Ling Yu by words he had once said.

• Xue Qinghe found Ling Yu absorbed in Soul Tool research and ordered Su Yao to guard the laboratory and keep his notes secret.
• Three days later, Ling Yu accepted Xue Qinghe’s invitation to dine at the crown prince’s residence, where the Dragon Abyss Boat had arrived.
• During dinner, Xue Qinghe asked Ling Yu about his research and his opinion of Spirit Hall, and Ling Yu praised its role in balancing the Star Luo Empire and helping ordinary people.
• Xue Qinghe told Ling Yu that he was not his Brother Xue, then revealed herself as Qian Renxue.
• Qian Renxue repeated a phrase Ling Yu had used before, and Ling Yu pretended to be alarmed and asked how she knew it.

Qian Renxue revealed her identity to Ling Yu and pressured him into joining Spirit Hall, then arranged support for his Soul Tool research. After Ling Yu returned to the academy, Qian Daoliu learned from Qian Renxue’s letter that Ling Yu had joined them and prepared to send him discarded Soul Tools.

• Qian Renxue revealed that she was Spirit Hall’s Pope’s daughter and threatened Ling Yu until he agreed to submit to Spirit Hall.
• Qian Renxue explained that Ling Yu’s guardian, servants, and laboratory security were already under Spirit Hall’s control, and promised him discarded Soul Tools for his research.
• Qian Renxue let Ling Yu leave without making him swear a Martial Soul Oath, then wrote to Qian Daoliu about what had happened.
• On the carriage ride back, Su Yao apologized to Ling Yu, who examined the Dragon Abyss Boat Soul Tool and considered how it worked.
• Qian Daoliu told the Enshrined that Ling Yu had joined Spirit Hall and left to retrieve discarded Soul Tools for him.

Qian Daoliu confronted Bibi Dong about Qian Renxue’s mission and upcoming hairpin ceremony, stirring Bibi Dong’s guilt and grief. At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ling Yu prepared for the year-end assessment and caught Ye Lingling’s attention with his studiousness.

• Bibi Dong scorned Qian Daoliu, who urged her to decide what to do about Qian Renxue’s hairpin ceremony and left her with his letter.
• After Qian Daoliu vanished, Bibi Dong sank to her knees and recalled her ruined dream of a hairpin ceremony and her fear that Qian Renxue would learn the truth about Qian Xunji’s death.
• Ling Yu declined his classmates’ invitations for the break and wondered about the Soul Tools and mysterious items he hoped to study.
• Ling Yu contemplated Ye Lingling’s Nine Heart Begonia during medicinal identification class, then listened attentively as the lesson began.
• Ye Lingling noticed Ling Yu’s focused manner and suspected the rumors about his work on the Soul Tool research laboratory might be true.
• Ling Yu went to the library to study for the year-end assessment, choosing not to use his transfer-student exemption.

Xue Qinghe took Ling Yu into Heaven Dou City to give him a break from his relentless studies, and Ling Yu later prepared for his end-of-year assessments. He passed his first official school fight by using Spiritual Detection and Ring Fusion to dislocate his opponent’s shoulder.

• Xue Qinghe urged Ling Yu to enjoy his childhood and took him around Heaven Dou City disguised as Qian Renxue, with Su Yao accompanying them.
• Ling Yu bought gifts for Qian Renxue and Su Yao, then declined to visit Grandpa Jack because he was worried about the unstable situation and the discarded Soul Tools he expected to arrive.
• At the end of the school year, Ling Yu turned ten and reached rank twenty-four, then sat his written exams and achieved a high physical combat score.
• The school assigned Ling Yu a combat-type practical assessment, and he chose to face a rank-twenty-one student with a Bear Martial Soul.
• Ling Yu fused his Soul Rings to sharpen Spiritual Detection, spotted his opponent’s weak shoulder joint, and dislocated it with a strike, earning a pass.

Ling Yu discussed his meridian diagram with Xue Qinghe, who warned him against dangerous experiments and explained Spirit Hall’s work against Fallen Ones. Xue Qinghe kept the drawing for review and brought Ling Yu discarded Soul Tools, leaving him absorbed in studying an offensive dagger.

• Xue Qinghe warned Ling Yu that past attempts to devise new meridian routes had injured or killed researchers, and Ling Yu promised not to experiment on himself.
• Ling Yu asked how to catch Fallen Ones and said he had considered using them as test subjects, but wanted to find a way to heal meridians first.
• Xue Qinghe explained that a Martial Soul passed down among relatives of the Qian Family’s founding ancestor could sense evil and help the Angel Legion hunt Fallen Ones, though its bearers risked corruption.
• Xue Qinghe decided to keep Ling Yu’s meridian drawing and submit it to his Grandfather and the Council of Elders for consideration with compensation for willing test subjects.
• Xue Qinghe brought discarded Soul Tools from Spirit Hall, and Ling Yu recognized a pale cyan offensive dagger and began examining it.
• Xue Qinghe left Ling Yu to research and signaled Su Yao to keep a closer eye on him.

Ling Yu attended the end-of-term assembly, discovered he had placed first in the Heavenly Subtle Level, and received his awards. After accepting Qin Nian’s invitation to a class dinner, he went to a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect shop to commission diamond engraving knives.

• Ling Yu saw the year-end rankings and found himself first in the Heavenly Subtle Level, with Ye Lingling first in the Heavenly Supreme Level and Dugu Yan seventh in the Heaven Dou Grade.
• Lin Qing told Ling Yu about the awards and benefits for the top ten, and Meng Shenji praised him as he received a Heaven Dou Badge and prize money.
• Qin Nian invited Ling Yu to the Class One year-end dinner at Clear Breeze Pavilion, and Ling Yu agreed to attend.
• Ling Yu removed three intact Soul Tool cores in the research room and asked Su Yao to arrange a carriage to Heaven Dou City.
• Ling Yu used Ning Fengzhi’s VIP card at a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect shop and asked Steward Liu to commission diamond engraving knives based on the core patterns.

Ling Yu commissioned a Soul Tool-related service at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s jewelry shop and arranged to study jewelry carving with Chen Ying. He then visited the auction house with Su Yao, where his imperial token secured them entry.

• Ling Yu surprised Manager Liu and Chen Ying by asking whether the shop accepted jewelry-carving apprentices, and Chen Ying welcomed his interest.
• After Manager Liu returned and apologized for failing to recognize Ling Yu’s VIP card, Ling Yu arranged to study with Chen Ying each morning, with a carriage sent to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
• Ling Yu and Su Yao rode through the city, and Ling Yu asked to visit the round-the-clock auction house after spotting its domed building.
• At the entrance, Ling Yu presented the token bestowed by His Majesty, and the hostess recognized it and escorted Ling Yu and Su Yao inside.

Ling Yu attended an auction with Su Yao, where he studied a catgirl’s Martial Soul mutation rather than bidding on her, then left for a banquet at Clear Breeze Pavilion. Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi learned of Ling Yu’s jewelry-design purchases and suspected he was researching Soul Tools.

• Ailin welcomed Ling Yu and Su Yao, gave Ling Yu a VIP card, and led them to the auction’s red seating area.
• Ling Yu asked Ailin to notify him about future Soul Tool lots, and she promised to send him illustrated catalogs of rare treasures.
• The auctioneer presented a catgirl whose Martial Soul Awakening had left her with cat ears and a tail, prompting Ling Yu to consider possible causes of Martial Soul mutations.
• Ailin offered Ling Yu credit to buy the catgirl, but he declined, and another buyer purchased her for one hundred and sixty thousand gold coins.
• Ling Yu left the auction and headed to Clear Breeze Pavilion for a banquet.
• Ning Fengzhi received word about Ling Yu’s jewelry-design apprenticeship and purchases, then suspected Ling Yu was researching Soul Tools.

Ling Yu began learning gemstone carving from Master Chen Ying at the jewelry shop, quickly impressing him with his steady hands and focused technique. After returning to the academy, Ling Yu organized discarded Soul Tool models in the laboratory and researched them in the library while Su Yao watched.

• Qian Renxue told Su Yao not to act rashly and ordered her to keep the laboratory guards in place while they watched the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Ling Yu gave Chen Ying a bottle of Jade Spring Wine as an apprentice’s gift and began learning basic relief carving in the workshop.
• Ling Yu used his enhanced perception to carve practice blocks with exceptional speed and focus, impressing Chen Ying.
• Chen Ying agreed to teach Ling Yu about different materials and toolmaking over the coming days, while he and Steward Liu discussed Ling Yu after he left.
• Ling Yu returned to the academy, organized discarded Soul Tool models in the laboratory, and then went to the library to consult reference materials.

Ling Yu researched mental-type Soul Beasts and organized his Soul Tool findings into notes for a first-edition textbook. Qian Renxue agreed to help him obtain ten-thousand-year whale glue and keep his theories within Spirit Hall’s higher-ups, while warning that Ning Fengzhi might discover his research.

• Ling Yu and Ye Lingling exchanged greetings outside the library, then Ling Yu studied mental-type Soul Beasts and considered how whale glue related to spiritual power.
• Ling Yu organized his Soul Tool notes in the research room, and Qian Renxue arrived and asked whether he planned to teach others with a textbook.
• Ling Yu asked Qian Renxue to obtain ten-thousand-year whale glue so he could improve his physical fitness, and she agreed to send some.
• Ling Yu gave Qian Renxue his theories about mental-type Soul Beasts and asked her to keep verified information from spreading beyond Spirit Hall’s higher-ups; she agreed.
• Qian Renxue warned that Ning Fengzhi might realize Ling Yu was researching Soul Tools, but reassured him that she could keep him at bay.

Ling Yu and Qian Renxue discussed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the limits of food-type Soul Masters before Qian Renxue revealed that Xue Ye wanted to arrange her engagement to Dugu Yan. She told Ling Yu that her undercover mission would likely last many more years, and he reassured her that he would always be there for her.

• Ling Yu asked why Spirit Hall had not tried to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Qian Renxue explained why the sect would not accept another faction’s overtures.
• Ling Yu asked about food-type Soul Masters, and Qian Renxue described their slow cultivation, limited abilities, and use by armies and Soul Hunting groups.
• Ling Yu wondered whether a mushroom Martial Soul counted as a plant or food type, making Qian Renxue laugh.
• Ling Yu asked why Qian Renxue had been angry, and she revealed that Xue Ye had proposed an engagement between her and Dugu Yan.
• Qian Renxue said her undercover mission would last many more years because Xue Ye controlled the military and remained healthy.
• Ling Yu told Qian Renxue he would always be there for her, and she hurried away after quietly acknowledging him.

Ling Yu successfully recreated the first Soul Tool in generations: a working Soul Guidance Lamp. After Su Yao and Qian Renxue tested it, he named it the Snowlight Lamp, and began documenting its manufacturing process.

• Ling Yu thanked Chen Ying for teaching him jewelry carving and gave him Jade Spring Wine and a gold coin card before returning to school.
• Ling Yu etched and assembled a clearlight gemstone into a Soul Guidance Lamp, then activated it with his Soul Power.
• Su Yao tested the lamp and hurried to notify Qian Renxue at Ling Yu's request.
• Qian Renxue arrived, tested the lamp herself, and urged Ling Yu to give the historic Soul Tool a name.
• Ling Yu named it the Snowlight Lamp, and Qian Renxue softly accepted the name.

Ling Yu explained his Soul Tool classification system to Qian Renxue and agreed to send Spirit Hall his draft, drawings, and a finished lamp in exchange for support and materials. After making two more Soul Guidance Lamps, he considered upgrading their light source and asked Su Yao to notify Qian Renxue.

• Ling Yu showed Qian Renxue his draft’s scalar-based Soul Tool classification, and she questioned its Blue Silver Grass measurement standard.
• Qian Renxue asked how Ling Yu planned to handle Ning Fengzhi’s interest, and he proposed sending Spirit Hall his draft, drawings, and a finished lamp as a progress report.
• Ling Yu planned to request discarded Soul Tools from Spirit Hall and to tell Xue Ye about the situation with Ning Fengzhi a few days later.
• Qian Renxue took the draft and drawings, agreed to send them with the lamp, and left; Ling Yu went to bed after seeing her off.
• Over the next two days, Ling Yu made two more Soul Guidance Lamps and considered whether a higher-grade light source could create a laser or high-temperature effect.
• Ling Yu called Su Yao over to ask her to notify Qian Renxue, then rested his head on the desk for a nap.

Ling Yu completed a Soul Tool, and Qian Renxue presented it and its blueprints to Xue Ye, who decided to reward him and entrusted Qinghe with handling the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s interest. At the imperial banquet, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo arrived, unaware of the surprise Xue Qinghe had prepared.

• Qian Renxue found Ling Yu asleep in the laboratory, waited for him to wake, and then returned to the palace with his textbook and completed Soul Tool.
• Qian Renxue sent She Long to deliver a letter, blueprints, and the Soul Tool to her grandfather.
• Xue Qinghe showed Xue Ye the Soul Guidance Lamp and its blueprints, and Xue Ye resolved to reward Viscount Nuoding for completing it.
• Xue Qinghe warned Xue Ye that Ning Fengzhi and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had taken an interest in Ling Yu, and Xue Ye left the response to him.
• Ning Fengzhi reviewed intelligence about Ling Yu and accepted Xue Ye’s invitation to a palace banquet.
• Xue Qinghe welcomed Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo to the palace, but kept the banquet’s purpose secret.

Emperor Xue Ye hosted Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin to discuss cooperation with Ling Yu, whose Soul Tool research had drawn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s interest. Ning Fengzhi reconsidered his plans after learning how difficult Soul Tool production was, and began weighing cooperation—and another way to bring Ling Yu closer to his sect.

• Emperor Xue Ye entered the banquet with Ling Yu and corrected Ning Fengzhi, announcing that Ling Yu was now the Earl of Nuoding.
• Emperor Xue Ye proposed that the imperial family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect share resources and Soul Tool blueprints, while Ning Fengzhi asked whether the sect could send people to learn.
• Ling Yu explained the qualifications required for research Soul Engineers and described the roles of theoretical, research, and operational Soul Engineers.
• Ling Yu explained the difficulties of mass-producing Soul Tools and said ranked Soul Tools might take another two to three months.
• Ning Fengzhi examined Ling Yu’s blueprint, recognized the difficulty of finding qualified researchers, and considered winning Ling Yu over, even briefly contemplating abducting him.
• Ning Fengzhi decided cooperation might be the best option and began thinking of Rongrong.

After the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect agreed to support Ling Yu’s Soul Tool research, Xue Ye considered using a marriage alliance to secure him for the empire. Ling Yu returned to school, where he successfully assembled and tested a pale-cyan dagger Soul Tool.

• Ning Fengzhi promised to provide resources for Ling Yu and asked him to teach a future qualified disciple from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Xue Ye told Xue Qinghe to find a suitable girl to become Ling Yu’s study companion and win his affection.
• Qian Renxue teased Ling Yu about marriage, and he denied having anyone in mind.
• Ning Fengzhi sent Ling Yu discarded Soul Tools and rare metals, including a complex sword-shaped Soul Tool that Ling Yu set aside to study later.
• Ling Yu engraved a Wind-Gathering Slash Array onto a wind marrow crystal, assembled it into a dagger, and tested its wind blade against a metal target.

Ling Yu explained the Wind Blade Dagger’s Soul Tool design and its limits to Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe, who recognized its potential for support-type Soul Masters. After Ning Rongrong took the dagger home, Qian Renxue returned to her true form and asked Ling Yu why he had not told her about the energy cannon sooner.

• Ning Rongrong demonstrated the Wind Blade Dagger’s attack, and Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo reacted with astonishment.
• Ling Yu explained that the dagger was a first-tier energy-discharge Soul Tool, described its production and durability issues, and outlined a possible ranged-weapon design.
• Ling Yu said he would study discarded Soul Tools, develop his knowledge of array patterns, and raise his cultivation; Ning Fengzhi promised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s support.
• Ning Rongrong declined to learn Soul Tool crafting but asked Ning Fengzhi to buy her the dagger, and Ling Yu agreed to let her keep it.
• After Ning Fengzhi and the others left, Qian Renxue returned to her true form and asked Ling Yu why he had not told her about the energy cannon sooner.

Ling Yu advanced to the Heavenly Supreme Level and joined Ye Lingling’s class, where their quiet encounters grew more familiar. At the library, he reasoned that Ring Fusion talent might allow Soul Masters to share Soul Power and help explain the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill.

• Qian Renxue told Ling Yu to leave his theoretical Soul Tool Dagger idea alone for now and reminded him to stay guarded around everyone.
• Ning Fengzhi and the elders discussed whether Ning Rongrong should attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy and agreed to learn more about Ling Yu before making a decision.
• After breaking through to rank twenty-five, Ling Yu joined Heavenly Supreme Level Support Class One, where he and Ye Lingling exchanged a brief look.
• Ye Lingling demonstrated the healing speed of her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul during practical combat class, prompting Ling Yu to consider its potential.
• Ling Yu and Ye Lingling walked to the library and studied near one another, while Ling Yu developed a theory linking Ring Fusion talent to Soul Power sharing and the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill.

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan shared a brief, teasing moment before Qian Renxue visited Ling Yu in the research room and gave him a rare Storage Soul Tool containing an eighty-thousand-year Illusory Heart Whale’s remains. After explaining Spirit Hall’s approach to hunting Soul Beasts and the limits on preserving Soul Bones, Qian Renxue left Ling Yu with new insight into the rarity of Soul Bones.

• Dugu Yan noticed Ye Lingling sitting with Ling Yu, playfully tested her reaction, and then left with her for their meal.
• Qian Renxue visited Ling Yu and gave him a Storage Soul Tool capable of holding living things, which he named Spirit Ruins.
• Qian Renxue told Ling Yu that the pouch contained parts of an eighty-thousand-year Illusory Heart Whale and explained that its Whale Rubber could improve mental power and physical constitution.
• Ling Yu worried about the whale’s death, and Qian Renxue explained that Spirit Hall hunted only under controlled circumstances and had killed it after a Soul Saint’s breakthrough.
• Qian Renxue revealed that the whale had dropped an eighty-thousand-year Mental Attribute Head Soul Bone and explained how repeated refinement, damage, and aging made Soul Bones scarce.

Qian Renxue broke down over the loss of her father, and Ling Yu comforted her as she grieved. Days later, Ling Yu met Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling at the library, while Su Yao watched and reflected on Qian Renxue’s feelings for him.

• Qian Renxue became overwhelmed with grief while explaining how the Clear Sky Sect’s Soul Beast hunts had led her father to act.
• Ling Yu took Qian Renxue’s hand and comforted her; she cried silently before leaving, and she did not visit again for several days.
• Ling Yu studied the shared formation patterns of Soul Tool fans and cooling devices, then headed to the library.
• Dugu Yan asked Ling Yu to be friends, and he agreed; Ye Lingling greeted him before Dugu Yan led her away.
• Ye Lingling looked back at Ling Yu as she left, and Su Yao watched, connecting Qian Renxue’s tearful appearance to her suspicions.